European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

THE PREVALENCE OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL DISEASE IN PREGNANT WOMEN AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH ADVERSE PREGNANCY OUTCOMES

*Tarek Al Sheshani BDS, Marwan Showayter BDS, Hossam Al Fuqaha BDS, Ahmad Al Khatib BDS, Kais Malallah BDS, Basema Ali MD

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Pregnancy introduces a unique physiological state characterized by hormonal fluctuations that can affect periodontal health. These changes shape conditions that are favorable to the development of maxillofacial and oral diseases, which makes these associations crucial in the context of developing targeted strategies to reduce health risks and improve outcomes for pregnant women. Purpose: This study aims to investigate the incidence of maxillofacial and oral diseases and complications among pregnant women in Jordan. Additionally, it seeks to provide insights into the possible contributing factors for these diseases to enhance healthcare for pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional, single-center study was conducted at the dental clinic of Prince Hashim bin Abdallah II Hospital in Aqaba, South Jordan, involving 86 pregnant women. Data collection included sociodemographic and clinical information. Oral health assessments were conducted by dental professionals, who evaluated various oral conditions in the period between July to October 2024. This included examining bone, epithelial, and soft tissue pathologies, as well as identifying specific issues such as oral ulcers and mucosal atrophy. Results: We found a high prevalence of oral health issues, with oral ulcers present in 58% of pregnant women and mucosal atrophy in 22%. Women with pregnancy complications had a significantly higher occurrence of oral ulcers and mucosal atrophy compared to those without complications. Additionally, benign bone lesions were more frequently observed in women with oral atrophy. Conclusion: Our results show a substantially high prevalence of maxillofacial and oral diseases among pregnant women in Jordan, particularly in those with pregnancy complications. There is a critical need for improved dental care and awareness to address these oral health issues during pregnancy, thereby enhancing maternal and fetal health outcomes.

Keywords: Oral disease, Maxillofacial disease, pregnant women, preterm birth, preeclampsia, gestational age, gravidity, parity, obstetric complications.